Bezel



Dec. 29, 1931. A, E- MCCURDY 1,839,041

BEZEL Filed March 30, 1951 the crystal falls out.

Patented Dec. 29, 1931 ARVILLE E. MCCURDY, OF CLARENDON, vVIRGINIA BEZEL Application led March 30, 1931'. Serial No. 526,437.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in bezels and particularly bezels of the generally rectangular or non-round type. It is not practicable to mount crystals in bezels of this shape in the manner in which round crystals are mounted, that is, by slightly cupping the crystal under pressure so as to contract its periphery to the size at which it will snap into the rabbet in the bezel. In non-round bezels, for wrist watches and the like in particular, cement has therefore been relied upon to Secure the crystal in the bezel.A This expedient has proved unsatisfactory, since from various causes the cement loses its bond and The present invention provides a construction in which small spring pawls concealed withinythe rim of the bezel and retractable to permit the seating of the crystal in the rabbet of the bezel are arranged automatically to project themselves slightly over the edge oi the crystal so as to hold the latter securely in place. Cement if used in conjunction with the spring pawls is employed only to provide a dust-proof seal between the crystal and bezel and not essentially asy an auxiliary retaining means for the crystal' which is firmly held in place through the in vstrumentality of the Vspring pawls alone.

Figure 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of one of the springs;

Figure 5 is a cross section illustrating the method of inserting the crystal in a bezel embodying the principles of thepresent invention; and

Figure 6 is a cross section taken at right angles to Figure 5, with spring pawl shown in front ofthe crystal.V

Referring now in detail to the several lig ures, the numeral l represents in general a bezel of non-round shape having an interior peripheral rabbet 2 on which the edge of the crystal 3 is adapted to seat. The ed e of the crystal is preferably bevelled rdinarily, in a bezel of this shape, the crystal would be cemented in place. In the present construction retractable spring pawls 4 and 5 extend over the lower edge ofthe bevel of the crystal andbear against the sloping surface of said bevel as illustrated at the left hand side of Figure 5. Figure 2 shows that the bezel is provided on its under surface with a channel 6. In

' carrying out my invention the side wall 7 65 of the rabbet is formed with slots 8 and 9 extending lengthwise on opposite sides of the bezel and communicating with the channel 6. The spring pawls t and 5 are suitably anchored in the channel 6 as by means of 70 screws l0 and the resilient free ends of said pawls -are so bent asto lie in the slots 8 and 9 and to extendl slightly beyond the inner sides of said slots so as to project within the sight of the bezel. It will be observed from Figure 5 that the projecting portions of the springs lie above the plane of the horizontal shoulder of the bevel on which the crystal rests. y

Vhen inserting the crystal in the bezel, the crystalis slightly tilted as shown in Figure 5, until the lower edge Vof the bevel onV one side rests upon the horizontal `shoulder of the rabbet and the crystal is then pushed against the adjacent spring pawl forcing the latter backward until the lower edge of the bevel of the crystal on the opposite side rests upon the projecting spring pawl on said opposite'side. A suitable instrument such asisl indicated at llin Figure 5 is then 9o pressed against the spring pawl upon which the crystal rests, reti-acting said pawl until its support is withdrawn and the crystal falls upon the rabbet. The spring pawl then automatically springs outwardly against the sloping face of the bevel and the crystal is thus firmly held in place on both sides.

' The sloping nature of the bevel of the crystal assures not only that the crystal is n held in place bythe engagement of the spring pawls but that it is pressed irmly against the horizontal shoulder oit the rabbet thus avoiding any looseness ot the crystal.

Since it is customary to have the side wall ol': the rabbet somewhat inclined so that the rabbet is under-cnt it suiiices to have the spring paWl on one side only of the bezel if desired, since the pressure of the spring Will .torce the opposite bevelled edge of the crystal beneath the overhanging Wall o'l the bezel. The use of spring pawls on opposite sides ot the bezel is however preferred.

It is to be understood that While I have dis* closed what I believe to be a preferred and practical form of the invention, the details oit construction as illustrated and described are merely by Way o example and not to be construed as limitative in their bearing upon the scope oi the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim is:

l. Bezel comprising a frame having a rabbet for receiving a crystal, a side wall of said rabbet being slotted, and yielding means projecting slightly through the slot in said rabbet for frictionally engaging an adjacent edge of said crystal and holding it in place.

Q. Bezel comprising a frame having a rabbet for receiving a crystal having a bevelled edge, a side Wall of said rabbet being slotted, and yielding means projecting through the slot in said rabbet a slight distance above the base of said rabbet .tor engaging the sloping tace ot the adjacent edge of said crystal, for holding said crystal in place.

3. Bezel comprising a frame having a rabbet tor receiving a crystal, and formed With an annular' channelv baciot' the side Wall of said rabbet, said side wall having a slot opening into said channel, and a spring paWl Vlived in said channel and extending through said slot for trictionally engaging an edge of the crystal.

Bezel comprising a frame having a rabbet for receiving a crystal having a bevelled edge, and formed with an annular channel back of the side Wall of said rabbet, said side Wall being formed with an opening into said channel, a spring paWl having a portion lixed in said channel, and a free resilient portion extending through said slot above the base ot said rabbet in a position yieldingly 'to engage the sloping face of the bevelled edge ol said crystal.

ln testimony whereof I a'llix my signature.

ARVILLE E. ldGCURDY. 

